Xeon E5-1603 v3 vs Celeron G6900
Xeon E5-1603 v3
Celeron G6900
Performance Spectrum - CPU
About PassMark
PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (PassMark) per dollar. The Xeon E5-1603 v3 is positioned at rank #683 in our cost-efficiency ranking, representing a Lower cost-benefit for your build. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Xeon E5-1603 v3
Performance Per Dollar Celeron G6900
Performance Comparison
About PassMark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
| Insight | Xeon E5-1603 v3 | Celeron G6900 |
|---|---|---|
| Gaming | ❌ Lower gaming performance | ✅ Superior gaming performance |
| Workstation | ✅ Better multi-core power | ❌ Weaker in multi-core tasks |
| Price | ✅ More affordable ($40) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($77) |
| Longevity | 🛑 Legacy (Haswell-EP (2014−2015) / 22 nm) | ✨ Modern (Alder Lake-S (2022) / Intel 7 nm) |
💎 Value Proposition
| Insight | Xeon E5-1603 v3 | Celeron G6900 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅ Better overall value (+93%) | ❌ Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅ More affordable ($40) | ⚠️ Higher cost ($77) |
Performance Check
To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.
Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Xeon E5-1603 v3 and Celeron G6900
Xeon E5-1603 v3
The Xeon E5-1603 v3 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2015-01-01. It is based on the Haswell-EP (2014−2015) architecture. It features 4 cores and 4 threads. Base frequency is 2.8 GHz, with boost up to 2.8 GHz. L3 cache: 10 MB (total). L2 cache: 256K (per core). Built on 22 nm process technology. Socket: LGA2011-3. Thermal design power (TDP): 140 Watt. Memory support: DDR4-1333, DDR4-1600, DDR4-1866. Passmark benchmark score: 4,460 points. Launch price was $800.
Celeron G6900
The Celeron G6900 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 2007-01-01. It is based on the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture. It features 2 cores and 2 threads. Base frequency is 3.4 GHz, with boost up to 3.4 GHz. L3 cache: 4 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 46 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 4,458 points. Launch price was $69.
Processing Power
The Xeon E5-1603 v3 packs 4 cores / 4 threads, while the Celeron G6900 offers 2 cores / 2 threads — the Xeon E5-1603 v3 has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 2.8 GHz on the Xeon E5-1603 v3 versus 3.4 GHz on the Celeron G6900 — a 19.4% clock advantage for the Celeron G6900 (base: 2.8 GHz vs 3.4 GHz). The Xeon E5-1603 v3 uses the Haswell-EP (2014−2015) architecture (22 nm), while the Celeron G6900 uses Alder Lake-S (2022) (Intel 7 nm). In PassMark, the Xeon E5-1603 v3 scores 4,460 against the Celeron G6900's 4,458 — a 0% lead for the Xeon E5-1603 v3. L3 cache: 10 MB (total) on the Xeon E5-1603 v3 vs 4 MB (total) on the Celeron G6900.
| Feature | Xeon E5-1603 v3 | Celeron G6900 |
|---|---|---|
| Cores / Threads | 4 / 4+100% | 2 / 2 |
| Boost Clock | 2.8 GHz | 3.4 GHz+21% |
| Base Clock | 2.8 GHz | 3.4 GHz+21% |
| L3 Cache | 10 MB (total)+150% | 4 MB (total) |
| L2 Cache | 256K (per core) | 1.25 MB (per core)+400% |
| Process | 22 nm | Intel 7 nm-68% |
| Architecture | Haswell-EP (2014−2015) | Alder Lake-S (2022) |
| PassMark | 4,460 | 4,458 |
| Geekbench 6 Single | — | 1,563 |
| Geekbench 6 Multi | — | 2,631 |
Memory & Platform
The Xeon E5-1603 v3 uses the LGA2011-3 socket (PCIe 3.0), while the Celeron G6900 uses LGA1700 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.
| Feature | Xeon E5-1603 v3 | Celeron G6900 |
|---|---|---|
| Socket | LGA2011-3 | LGA1700 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 | PCIe 5.0+67% |
| Max RAM Speed | — | DDR5-4800 |
| Max RAM Capacity | — | 128 GB |
| RAM Channels | — | 2 |
| ECC Support | — | ❌ |
| PCIe Lanes | — | 20 |
Advanced Features
Virtualization: not specified (Xeon E5-1603 v3) / VT-x (Celeron G6900). The Celeron G6900 includes integrated graphics (UHD Graphics 710), while the Xeon E5-1603 v3 requires a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Celeron G6900 targets Budget. Direct competitor: Celeron G6900 rivals Pentium Gold G7400.
| Feature | Xeon E5-1603 v3 | Celeron G6900 |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated GPU | — | Yes |
| IGPU Model | — | UHD Graphics 710 |
| Unlocked | — | No |
| AVX-512 | — | No |
| Virtualization | — | VT-x |
| Target Use | — | Budget |
Value Analysis
The Xeon E5-1603 v3 launched at $273 MSRP, while the Celeron G6900 debuted at $52. At current prices ($40 vs $77), the Xeon E5-1603 v3 is $37 cheaper. In terms of value (PassMark points per dollar), the Xeon E5-1603 v3 delivers 111.5 pts/$ vs 57.9 pts/$ for the Celeron G6900 — making the Xeon E5-1603 v3 the 63.3% better value option.
| Feature | Xeon E5-1603 v3 | Celeron G6900 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $273 | $52-81% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $40-48% | $77 |
| Performance per Dollar | 111.5+93% | 57.9 |
| Release Date | 2014 | 2022 |
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